NI isn't in the Westminster government, and don't really have the seats to wield much power there, unless they all band together. Peter Robinson losing his seat was a humiliation - but ultimately not that important for him, as he said immediately afterwards, because it's his position as FM in Stormont that counts.
Loosing his seat means his days are pretty much numbered, despite what DUP members are saying publicly. Holding onto his seat was a chance to try and regain ground and fight back against the internal factions looking to get rid of him, now that he has failed I can't see any other way out.
As for having no influence in Westminster it all depended on the Tory numbers. If the Tories had have been just shy of a majority they probably would have done a deal with the DUP to leave the norths finances alone (or at least relativity unscathed) in return for support. As it stands the North is likely to loose a lot of money.
Once known as Hochopepa
You cannot kill a vampire with an MDF stake; werewolves can't fly; zombies do not run. - Simon Pegg
You cannot kill a vampire with an MDF stake; werewolves can't fly; zombies do not run. - Simon Pegg
Britain has a new Prime Minister
11/05/2010 08:12:50 PM
- 981 Views
Oh, right, I had totally forgotten that...
11/05/2010 08:14:31 PM
- 715 Views
Nope. The Tories can form a minority government and risk the danger of collapsing.
11/05/2010 08:18:31 PM
- 712 Views
That is what is being reported. From the Guardian quoting an unnamed Lib Dem MP
11/05/2010 08:30:52 PM
- 756 Views
But at the price of PR, no doubt.
11/05/2010 08:32:02 PM
- 714 Views
Not much of a price, I suspect
11/05/2010 08:49:38 PM
- 727 Views
The new cabinet is starting to come together.
11/05/2010 09:46:03 PM
- 703 Views
Defence is now updated to Fox according to Sky
11/05/2010 10:54:58 PM
- 596 Views
Yeah, just saw that coming through.
11/05/2010 11:00:25 PM
- 744 Views
That one is a surprise to me, I expected Clegg to get it in some form
11/05/2010 11:06:36 PM
- 644 Views
They're back to talking about Gove as Home Secretary.
12/05/2010 12:01:44 AM
- 665 Views
Heh, he has at least been barely caught up in the expenses scandal
12/05/2010 12:20:46 AM
- 670 Views
*Raises hand*
11/05/2010 10:00:22 PM
- 673 Views
Ick.
11/05/2010 10:15:13 PM
- 583 Views
How utterly delightful.
11/05/2010 10:17:15 PM
- 672 Views
And now we have a new government. The LibDems have signed up wholeheartedly.
12/05/2010 12:16:31 AM
- 640 Views
And I now think I can class myself as a former Lib Dem voter
12/05/2010 12:33:28 AM
- 596 Views
What would you have them do?
12/05/2010 09:32:57 AM
- 792 Views
There are more than two choices
12/05/2010 10:20:35 AM
- 750 Views

The only problem is that would mean returning a labour majority within 12 months
12/05/2010 11:36:47 AM
- 707 Views
They should have, since they didn't get enough important ministerial posts to compensate.
12/05/2010 01:42:07 PM
- 702 Views
Re: They should have, since they didn't get enough important ministerial posts to compensate.
12/05/2010 02:13:19 PM
- 716 Views
What about Northern Ireland? For the love of God, what about Northern Ireland?!?!?! *NM*
12/05/2010 05:00:37 AM
- 288 Views
What about it? Their parties won't be in the government.
12/05/2010 10:27:50 AM
- 568 Views
Well some very interesting things happened
12/05/2010 11:45:36 AM
- 691 Views
That they did, but it's still largely symbolic.
12/05/2010 01:03:31 PM
- 749 Views
Oh it's important to him
12/05/2010 03:00:54 PM
- 642 Views
I was constantly checking up on Fermanagh & South Tyrone during the recounts.
12/05/2010 01:16:50 PM
- 664 Views
There are no firm plans on how to deal with the north joining the republic
12/05/2010 03:19:52 PM
- 649 Views
I think what he means is that saying "Britain" instead of "the UK" technically excludes NI. *NM*
12/05/2010 01:06:56 PM
- 271 Views
Nick Clegg is the first ever Deputy PM without an actual ministerial role.
12/05/2010 01:22:49 PM
- 727 Views
Re: Nick Clegg is the first ever Deputy PM without an actual ministerial role. Yet
12/05/2010 01:41:12 PM
- 627 Views
Maybe.
12/05/2010 01:47:16 PM
- 657 Views